ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday slapped a fine of Rs2 million each on the interior secretary, the inspector general of Islamabad police and the superintendent of police (investigation) in a case related to a missing person.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani also issued directions for taking disciplinary action against these officers since they failed to recover the missing citizen, Suleman Farooq.

An official of the Islamabad police informed the court that a joint investigation team (JIT) had been constituted to probe the disappearance of Mr Farooq.

According to the petition filed by Prof Mohammad Sharif, his 27-year-old son Suleman Farooq, who is an electrical engineer, went missing from Phase III of Bahria Town on Oct 4.

The petitioner said he approached the Lohi Bher police and got registered an FIR (first information report).

According to the petition, Mr Farooq was apparently picked up by a powerful organisation and his father has been running from pillar to post to know his whereabouts.

IHC also orders disciplinary action against officers for failing to recover citizen

He said a complaint had also been filed with the chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, but to no avail.

The petitioner requested the court to direct security agencies and the relevant departments of the federal government to find the whereabouts of his missing son, and in case he had committed any offence he should be dealt with in accordance with the law.

In a related case, the mother of a missing person, Imran Khan, petitioned the IHC for the recovery of her son who is a computer engineer and was working in the UAE.

In the petition, she said her son was picked up from his home situated at G-10 Islamabad and was taken away in a double-cabin vehicle.

According to the petition, Mr Khan went missing four years ago and the family got registered an FIR with the local police. However, the police failed to recover him.

The petitioner took up the matter with the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances and during the hearing by the commission it was concluded that the case fell under enforced disappearances and law enforcement agencies were asked to find his whereabouts.

Mr Khan was married and has a six-year-old son. However, his wife filed a suit for dissolution of the marriage on the basis of khula for the prolonged absence of her husband. The family judge of Islamabad dissolved the marriage and handed over his son to his mother.

The petition said Mr Khan was an educated professional and there was no case or complaint registered against him in any police station. If there was anything against him, he should have been brought before the court of law.

It said the arrest was a violation of the constitutional provisions that ensured fundamental rights of citizens.

Meanwhile, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah sought a report from the government on the disappearance of Mr Khan. Her mother Nasreen Begum filed the petition before the IHC.

Additional Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Khokhar requested the court for grant of time to trace the missing person. The court adjourned hearing to August 11.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2020